Gravity concrete-distributing apparatus



July 16,1929. J, E USHNELL 1,721,068

GRAVITY CONCRETE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS July 16, 1929. J. E. BUSHNELL GRAV'ITY CONCRETE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Oot. 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 16, 1929. i

UNITED STATES 1,121,068 PATENT OFFICE.

JAivrEsE. BUsHNELn/er NORTH rLArNEIELD, NEW JERsEY, JassrerNoR 'ro RANsoME CONCRETE MACHINERY COMPANY, 0E rLArNErELn, NEW JERsEY, A CORPORA- TION 0F NEW JERSEY.

l GRAVITY GONCRETE-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 4, 1927. Serial No. 223,866.

The improvements relate to apparatus for distributing and placing concrete and the like by gravity, and more particularly to the chutes or similar conduits through which the material is conveyed by gravity from the elevating device to the point of placement, and the supporting structure therefor.

The objects of the improvement-s, among others, are to provide a conduit of the character stated which may be employed for the distribution of the material to two or more points simultaneously orsuccessively, and without-adjustment ofthe said conduit on its supporting structure, and to provide for the self counterbalancing of the said structure, the adjustment of the conduits to meet diferent conditions and the support ofthe same in all positions and under all working conditions.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the L following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. lis a side elevation of a chute unit embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are details.

Referring more particularly to SheetV 1 of the drawings the reinforced chargingchute for my unit is shown leading from the usual tower (not shown) and suspended by any suitable means, such as cable 11, from the tower or a boom thereon (notshown). Supported from said cable by block 12 are lingers 13' suitably secured to an yannular base 14 which they support. Mounted on the annulus 14 are a plurality of anti-friction elements, such as rollers 15, upon which the annular flange 16, of the counterweighted chute unit, rides. As shown moreclearly in Fig. 2, the annulus 1G has depending therefrom the bin or hopper l17 comprising the head 18 yand two-way discharge spouts 19.l In order that material entering the head 18 j may be diverted selectively to the spouts or to both simultaneously, I have provided a gate 2O pivoted at 21which may be swung from full to dotted line position as' indicated. vrny convenient mea-ns, such as`V arm 22, may

*be provi-ded for operating gate 20 from the`v ground.

the pivot 23, said support not beingy shown to avoid confusion in the drawing. The chutes 24, of my distributing unit, are equipped at their inner ends with aperturcd brackets for riding on the pivot rod 23, which rod also carriesthe strut members hereinafter referred to. For purposesof illustration but two oppositely disposed chutes 24 have been shown, but it is within the scope of my invention to provide any number of pairs of chutes so disposed about the base 14.

Rather than use a `single chute with a counterbalancing weight (which latter` is a dead loss from the standpoint of utility) as 1n prior structures, I have retained the counter-balance feature, put it to useful service and thereby secured a structureiwhich will admit of distribution of the concrete at a plurality of points and in spaced relation.

lAccordingly, I have employed two chutes 24 of the same weight, length and accessories so that when suspended from a common point in diverging relation, they will form a balance for each other. Each chute 24 terminates in a discharge mouth 26 beneath which is suspended a telescopic nozzle 27, constructed to accommodate itself to the height of the chute above the ground. Intermediate its length, each chute 24, is provided with other telescopic nozzles/28 suspended beneath suitable ports in the base of the chute, a sliding gate 29 for opening or closing said parts, being provided.

Adjacent the outer limit of each chute I provide a rod 30 upon which are pivoted the ends of reinforced trusses 31', the 'inner ends of said trusses being pivoted at 32 to cross beams 33, see Fig. 3. Said beams 33 aresuitably supported from struts 25,

and have keyed thereinto, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, nuts 34 and 35. The duplicate pyramidal structure defined by elements 24, 31, 33 and 25, having a common apex at 23 are maintained separate at their bases by worm rods 36 and 37 each having right and left hand threads riding in the threaded nuts 34 and 85 respectively. Suitable means 38 are provided on the worms for imparting rotation thereto.

From this constructiomitl isapparent that by rotating the wormsSG-and `37,'the

pitch-of 4chutes-24 may -be valtered convent iently. From the annulus 14 I preferably support' Telescopic supports 39 are provided adjacent thee'nds of each chute for bracing same in case of a preponderance of weight on either side, due to the passing of the concrete.

It will be noted that chute 10 and base ld through which it discharges material, remain fixed with respect to each other, while the annulus 16, bin 17 and counterbalanced chutes 24C are free to rotate about a vertical axis.

The nozzles 27, at the end of chutes 24, may be replaced by additional chute sections ior increasing the range of the plant. Suitable guy Wires 40, having turn buckles, are provided for reinforcement.

' The chutes 24 may be 96 feet in length, and when mounted in counterbalancing relation are adapted to span approximately 180 feet. Accordingly for work in the lield, it is clear that the concrete may be supplied at a plurality of remote points, without the necessity of swinging the chute, as is necessary where only a one-way counterweighted chute is employed. Furthermore, my two way counter-balanced chutes may be adjusted by means ot the worms 3G and 37, to raise or lower same, as shown in dotted lines and thus provide a convenient means for automatically controlling the fall, without resorting to cables, guy wires, etc.

Other advantages of my relined construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In apparatus of the character described a distributing unit comprising a plurality of independent chutes suspended from a common support and adapted for movement relative to one another, halt of said chutes positioned to counterbalance the remainin chutes.

2. A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of independent chutes suspended from a common support and adapted for movement relative to one another, half of said chutes positioned to counter'- balance the remaining chutes and adjustable means between connterbalanced chutes for maintaining same in diverging relation.

3. A concrete distributing unit comprising a group ot' chutes diverging downwardly from a common source, adjustable means uniting oppositely disposed chutes of said group for varying the spread thereof.

et. A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of independent chutes diverging from a common source, half ot said chutes positioned to counterbalance the remaining chutes, means for adjusting the relation ot complementary chutes, and selective means for simultaneously or alternately feeding said chutes.

In apparatus of the character desribed, a distributing unit comprising a plurality ot chutes suspended from a common pivot, halt of said chutes positioned to counterbalance the remaining chutes, and adjustable means for varying the inclination of said chutes with respect to said pivot.

6. ln apparatus of the character described, a distributing unit comprising a plurality of chutes suspended from a common support, half ot' said chutes positioned to counterbalance the remaining chutes, and adjustabley means between said chutes tor altering the pitch of complementary chutes with respect to each other.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a distributing unit comprising a plurality of chutes suspended from a common support, halt of said chutes positioned to counterbalance the remaining chutes, said chutes being provided with outlets along their length and adjustable means between said chutes for altering the pitch of complementary chutes with respect to each other.

8. Il`he apparatus as described in foregoing claim 7 and means for closing some ot said outlets. j

9. A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of chutes suspended in divergent relation from a common source, one chute positioned to counterbalance the other,

said chutes being provided with outlets` along their length, means tor closing said outlets, adjustable means for varying the pitch of the chutes with respect to each other and supports for said chutes adjacent their discharge ends. l0. ln a gravity distributing unit for concrete and the like, a conduit comprising a plurality of branches, a connectingand supporting structure therefor, a hopper device connected with said branches and communieating with both, said supporting structure being arranged to support the said branches rigidly in self counterbalaneing relation, and means for adjusting said supporting structure and the said branch conduits to alter the pitch of the conduits relative to each other. f

ll. Alconcrete distributingunit comprisinga plurality of independent chutes pivotally united at a common source, at least two of said chutes positioned to counterbalance f each other and means for varying the position ot said chutes relative toeach other.

l2. A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of chutes diverging downwardlyrfrom a common point of supply, at least one ol said chutes positionedy 180:0 trom a complementary chute in counterbalancing relationship and means for varying the position of said last named chutes relative `to each other.

i 13. A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of independent chutes diverging from a common source, means for adjusting the diverging relation of said chutes, one chute being `positioned to counterbalance the other in any adjusted position of said chutes.

14. A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of chutes suspended in di-l vergent relation and adapted to receive from a common source materials to be distributedj and means for adjusting the divergent relation of said chutes including a screw threaded rod and complementary nuts there- 10 for.

15; A concrete distributing unit comprising a plurality of combined chute and reinforced truss units, each such unit including a chute and supporting frame therefor, a

pivotal connection uniting chutes of eachl unit and an adjustable connection operatively connecting the framesof each unit.

Witness my hand this 30 day of September, 1927, county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey.

JAMES E. BUSHNELL. 

